National Restoration Party (NAREP ) president Elias Chipimo Junior has urged the national leadership to seriously guide the debate on the Barotseland Agreement ( BRE ) which threatens the sovereignty of the nation.

Speaking to Journalists during a briefing at NAREP headquarters in Lusaka today, Mr Chipimo said it is sad that the nation has witnessed the increased anxiety and unrest in the Western Province over the now famous BRE Agreement of 1964.

Mr Chipimo stated that the reason why the BRE Agreement has become contentious was no doubt a reflection of lack of national leadership. He said had there been leadership the BRE issue would never have escalated to the levels it come to now.

The NAREP leader told reporters that it was a pity that the BRE Agreement is not widely circulated and understood, the resulting debate would certainly be more informed and perhaps less heated.

He said NAREP believes that the central idea behind the Barotseland Agreement, if handled correctly, could be extended to all major traditional authorities as a way of directly involving them in the governance of the country’s vast and culturally diverse nation.

He added that such an approach may offer a better chance of addressing our most pressing development challenges while also promoting and preserving the positive aspect of our unique culture in the country.

Mr Chipimo disclosed that Zambians have had no chance to read the Agreement, making it easy for every politicians of every shade to jump onto the bandwagon of opportunism in a bid to claim the hearts of the people of Western Province.

“it will be useful to provide a little background information on the origin of the Barotseland Agreement. This will enable to set the stage for explaining why NAREP believes force should never be applied in trying to quell the voices of those raising concern about its implementation,” said Mr. Chipimo.

[pullquote]Mr Chipimo disclosed that Zambians have had no chance to read the Agreement, making it easy for every politicians of every shade to jump onto the bandwagon of opportunism in a bid to claim the hearts of the people of Western Province.[/pullquote]

He said it was for this reason why NAREP believes that there must be a clear economic plan that incorporates rural communities as an integral part of overall economic development .

The BRE in its submissions to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) draft constitution, demanded the acknowledgment of some provisions in the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 in the new constitution.

BRE Senior Induna Ingangwana, who was flanked by Indunas Mukwakwa representing Senanga district, Ilubonda of Limulunga Royal Village and Induna Malenga representing Kaoma district, made the submissions to NCC Chairman, Chifumu Banda, during the conference’s session in Lusaka, last year.

In the submissions signed by the acting Ngambela, Litia Walubita, the BRE noted that the draft constitution did not consider the provisions of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.

The BRE proposed in the submissions that Articles of the constitution which define Zambia as a unitary state should acknowledge the Barotseland Agreement to be the instrument by which the unitary state is constituted.

The BRE said Part II of the Draft Constitution 2010 was not inclusive and proposed that Articles 4 (2), (3) and (5) be recast.

It proposed that the text of Article 4 (2), which establishes Zambia as a unitary, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural democratic state, should be changed to reflect the origins of the unitary state.

The Establishment has disassociated itself from people calling for the succession of the Western Province from the rest of Zambia.

BRE Spokesperson Oliver Saasa yesterday said  the establishment was  not in support of the succession.  Professor Saasa  also condemned people that have resorted to violence, to champion their cause.

[pullquote]Mr Chipimo  said  that although he does not support violence as a means of achieving what the people of Western Province are advocating for in the Barotseland Agreement , he  lamented that it was also not good to squeeze those fighting for the Agreement in the corner by way of suppressing their views.[/pullquote]

Professor Saasa who is also Induna Kaluwe said  the BRE was  also not part of a group calling itself “Concerned citizens” who were planning to have a public meeting on January 14 in Limulunga.

And the NAREP President further said that is was paramount that traditional leaders in the country be central to the planning and implementation of all local development programs in the country.

Mr Chipimo  said  that although he does not support violence as a means of achieving what the people of Western Province are advocating for in the Barotseland Agreement , he  lamented that it was also not good to squeeze those fighting for the Agreement in the corner by way of suppressing their views.

Mr. Chipimo contended that the Barotseland Agreement is a document that forms an important part of our history and that it cannot be simply wished away just like that.

ZANIS

Mine workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) President Radford Mbulu has tendered an apology to Republican President Rupiah Banda unreservedly for his language he used to Labour Minister Austin Liato.

Mr. Mbulu on December 31st, last year is quoted in the press where he made derogatory remarks against the minister.

The MUZ chief made the apology in Kitwe today to President Banda as the appointing authority at a press briefing.

Mr. Mbulu admitted that the utterances used against the Labour and Social security Minister Mr. Liato were regrettable.

He said he realized that Mr. Liato carries a lot of responsibilities in the welfare of the people in the country.

He said Government and his Union were key players to political and economical dispensation of the country and the Minister had a vital role to play in the labour sector and bargaining negotiations for improved conditions of service.

Mr. Mbulu also appreciated President Banda and Mr. Liato hence for them to forgive him as he had realized the embarrassment he caused to the Head of State as appointing authority.

He expressed hope that upon tendering his apology to Government of the day, he will restore the professional and personal relationship that existed in the trio.

Meanwhile, Miners in Mufulira have called for the immediate resignation of Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Rayford Mbulu to ensure that an eligible person is ushered into the office.

The miners have also argued that Mr. Mbulu cannot effectively represent them because he is no longer an employee of any mining company as such he does not share their interests and cannot advocate for anything good for them.

According to a statement released to ZANIS in Mufulira today signed by Mr. Wisdom Ngwira, the general secretary for a newly formed miners union called United Mine Workers Union of Zambia (UMUZ), the miners have complained that Mr Mbulu has already failed to improve the plight of the miners and would be happy to have him step down on moral grounds.

Mr. Ngwira said the miners have since urged Mr. Mbulu to step down from his position to pave way for a legitimate person.

Meanwhile Mr. Ngwira has said Mr. Mbulu’s apology to government yesterday was not genuine but at act meant to protect his position.

Recently Labour Minister Austin Liato directed the MUZ president to resign from his position because he was not an employee of any mining company in Zambian as required for one to be a MUZ leader.

On the other hand Mr. Mbulu on Thursday tendered in his apology to Mr. Liato for his outburst over his job termination by Chambishi Metals Plc and his disqualification in the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) presidency contest.

ZANIS

The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has disassociated itself from people calling for the succession of the Western Province from the rest of Zambia.

BRE Spokesperson Oliver Saasa says the establishment is not in support of the succession.

Professor Saasa has also condemned people that have resorted to violence, to champion their cause.

Professor Saasa who is also Induna Kaluwe says the BRE is also not part of a group calling itself “Concerned citizens” who are planning to have a public meeting on January 14 in Limulunga.

He says the group is distributing flyers ordering non Lozi speaking people to leave the province by January 14, and is planning to dethrone the Litunga.

Professor Saasa was speaking at press briefing in Lusaka today.

And Professor Saasa says the establishment’s national governing council is preparing a meeting on the way forward in addressing issues raised in the Barotse Agreement.

He says the meeting will come up with a roadmap on how best to resolve issues with the government.

Professor Saasa however maintained that the issue of succession will not be on the agenda of the meeting.

He says the BRE will not support any cause that can endanger the peace of the country.

ZNBC

President Rupiah Banda has assured that the Eastern Province Movement for Multiparty Democracy Provincial conference will be held in a free and non violent atmosphere.

The President said this at the City Airport, shortly before his departure to Eastern Province for a three day working visit onboard a Zambia Air force plane in Lusaka today.

President Banda who looked jovial said, he did not expect any violence at the provincial conference, since the MMD was not a violent party and that the delegates to the convention would without doubt choose leaders of their choice without causing confusion.

He said, the conference will be held in a conducive and non violent manner like was the case on the Copper-Belt, Western and Central Province conferences which he said were devoid of violent activities.

And President Banda has chided Colonel Panji Kaunda for the comments attributed to him as quoted in some cross section of the media that this year’s elections would be the bloodiest in the history of the country.

“What gives some people such courage to issue such alarming statements?, asked Mr. Banda. “Zambia will continue enjoying peace, as Zambians are loving people”, said Mr. Banda.

President Banda said, Government had done a lot for the people of Zambia, especially in the agricultural sector where he said government had managed to pay all the farmers who supplied their maize to the Food Reserve Agency to the tune of over 1.3 trillion Kwacha across the country.

He added that, just in Eastern Province alone, Government bought maize worth 233 billion Kwacha, saying the trend was similar in all the nine provinces in the country.

The President has been scheduled to be in the Eastern Province for three days, where he is expected to hold private talks with some stakeholders, before proceeding to Chipata, to officially open the Eastern Province MMD provincial conference.

He is accompanied by the Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga, MMD National Chairperson, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Lands Michael Mabenga and Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala and other Senior Government officials.

The President and his entourage was seen off at about 14:40 hours by Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa, Information Minister Ronny Shikapwasha and Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja.

The others present to see off the Head of State were the Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma, Defence Chiefs and other Senior government officials.

And in Chipata, the president said the MMD government will not be swayed by media innuendos aimed at destabilizing the ruling party which stands for unity of the entire country.

Speaking on arrival at Chipata airport amid jubilant MMD cadres, President Banda said the MMD will not be twisted by sentiments aimed at destabilising the party’s focus on unifying the people of Zambia and fostering development.

President Banda, who spoke in Ngoni as he was addressing slogan chanting MMD cadres, said he was happy that people in eastern province have continued to be united despite negative media sentiments against the ruling party and the government.

ZANIS

Government says Col Panji Kaunda’s statement that this year’s tripartite elections would be the bloodiest was very devastating for most people in the country.

And Government has stressed that it does not harbor any hatred against the Post Newspapers and its owner Fred Mmembe.

Featuring on Radio Phoenix Let the People Talk programme in Lusaka today, Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said Col Panji would have done well to consult government on measures put in place to ensure the elections are violent free than for him to make such a statement.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said most people especially women kept calling him asking if it was true that the 2011 general elections were indeed going to be the bloodiest.

The Chief Government Spokesperson who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister explained that the statement ignited a lot of fear in people and is likely to create voter apathy as most people will be scared to participate in the electoral process.

He said government is working around the clock to ensure that the 2011 elections are as violent free as possible, saying the police have been beefed up and defense forces are on hand to assist conduct violent free elections.

And Lt Gen Shikapwasha has stressed that Government does not harbor any hatred against the Post Newspapers and its owner Fred Mmembe.

He said what government hates is for the paper to continue peddling lies that are aimed at discrediting the government of the day.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said many people have been hurt because of the unsubstantiated lies that the paper has peddled.

“One Chieftainess from North-Western Province, Chieftainess Nyakulenga came crying to me that the Post Newspapers had misquoted her and that when she went to see the reporter who had written the incorrect story, the young man insulted her”, he said.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Shikapwasha has said the public media in the country operates independently and free from government interference.

He said the public media have boards and management that are professional enough to make their own decisions, adding that government does not prevail over headlines they make.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha also stated that the public media is open for all citizens to access and air their views concerning what is happening in the country unlike certain private medias that have shut out certain individuals.

“ZNBC, Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily Mail are available for all our citizens to access. It’s up to the people themselves to decide whether they want to use the public media or not”, the Minister said.

Speaking at on the same programme, Economic and Political consultant Bob Sichinga commended the MMD for holding ward and provincial conventions to elect party officials. He said this was a manifestation of what true democracy is.

Mr Sichinga stated that all political parties in the county should emulate the move by the ruling MMD and hold party conventions for the sake of enhancing democracy in the country.

He proposed that a law be enacted to compel all political parties to hold elections to select their representatives.

ZANIS

Government has warned that anybody agitating for succession of Western province from the rest of Zambia risk being arrested for treason.
Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu has said the law will not spare the agitators of seccession. Mr Lungu has reiterated that government will not tolerate attempts to delink Western province from the rest of Zambia as this is a recipe for instability in the country. He was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today.

Mr Lungu has also disclosed that government is aware of the meeting planned by those advocating for the implementation of the Barotse Agreement. Mr Lungu says the meeting is scheduled for January 14th, but emphasises that police will not give a permit to the organisers.

And Mr Lungu said yesterday’s Meeting between the Litunga and Vice President George Kunda went well. He said the meeting was called to discuss the recent disturbances that have rocked Western province. He said President Rupiah Banda delegated the Vice President to meet the Litunga.

However, Mr Lungu could not disclose the details of the meeting because Mr Kunda was expected to brief president Banda before issuing statements.

Meanwhile Mr Lungu has counseled politicians to conduct peaceful campaigns in the run up to the 2011 general elections. Mr Lungu said politicians should not conduct their campaigns in a manner that could promote anarchy and violence. He has also called on various stakeholders in the nation to preach peace ahead of the elections.

Mr Lungu has further appealed to the media not to disseminate information that might cause anxiety in the nation. The Minister was responding to journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka today.

And Mr Lungu has also added his voice to people that have condemned colonel Panji Kaunda over his recent statement that the 2011 general elections will be the bloodiest.

[ZNBC]